Psychology News

These research articles involve many aspects of psychology such as cognitive psychology, depression studies, mental health, stress, happiness and neuropsychology, Scroll below for more specific categories.

Researchers made significant advances in understanding how drugs like cocaine and morphine disrupt the brain's natural reward mechanisms. Their study reveals that these drugs manipulate the same brain cells responsible for processing natural rewards, leading to compulsive drug-seeking behaviors.
A monumental genetic study involving over 1.2 million people has identified 95 genomic loci associated with PTSD, revealing 80 previously undiscovered loci. This study, the largest of its kind, highlights the significant genetic underpinnings of PTSD and suggests new avenues for treatment and prevention strategies.
Researchers developed a method using wearable headcams and AI to analyze teenagers' facial expressions, revealing subtle emotional nuances. This technology has shown potential in identifying emotions such as worry and happiness, even when they are masked.
Researchers shed light on how individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) process emotions differently due to abnormalities in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. By using stereotactic electroencephalography (sEEG), researchers were able to observe how these brain regions react to positive and negative stimuli, revealing a significant imbalance in emotional processing.
A flexible response to food cues significantly improves attitudes towards high-calorie foods among women with controlled eating habits. The research involved 78 women, employing tests like the Implicit Association Test and the Food Stop-Signal Task to assess their subconscious attitudes and impulse control towards food.
Researchers shed light on how human brains handle decisions that impact others, particularly when options conflict. In their study, participants engaged in tasks designed to assess their preference integration and decision-making processes for both personal and others' benefits.
People with Parkinson’s disease experience altered bodily sensations related to basic emotions differently from healthy individuals. Utilizing electronic body maps, participants identified how emotions like anger, happiness, and sadness manifested physically, noting significant shifts in sensation locations, particularly with anger moving from the chest to the abdomen.
Physical activity significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by diminishing stress-related brain signaling. The study, which analyzed data from over 50,000 participants, showed that individuals who adhered to physical activity guidelines had a 23% lower risk of developing heart disease.
Adverse childhood experiences can detrimentally affect muscle function in older adults by impairing mitochondrial activity necessary for energy production. The study analyzed muscle biopsies from over 870 participants aged 70 and older, linking reported childhood adversities with reduced production of ATP, the energy currency of cells.
A new review connects low socioeconomic status (SES) with significant changes in brain development, behavior, and cognitive outcomes. The review synthesizes existing research to present a unified framework showing how factors common in low SES environments—such as poor nutrition, chronic stress, and substandard living conditions—adversely affect neurodevelopment.

These research articles involve depression, seasonal affective disorders, grief, pain, sadness, happiness and generally news regarding mental health research.

A comprehensive review challenges the long-held belief that menopause directly causes psychological distress and mental health conditions in all women. This study finds no universal link between menopause and an increased risk of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or psychosis. However, it identifies factors that heighten the risk of depressive symptoms during menopause, such as previous depression episodes, sleep disruption from hot flushes, and concurrent stressful life events.
Researchers made a significant breakthrough in understanding how ketamine treats depression-related social impairments, focusing on the drug's effects in the mouse model. Their study shows that (R)-ketamine, as opposed to (S)-ketamine, effectively restores neuronal activity in the anterior insular cortex, a region crucial for emotional regulation and social cognition.
Familiar scents can significantly aid individuals with depression in recalling specific autobiographical memories, potentially offering a new avenue for therapeutic intervention. By directly engaging the amygdala through olfactory cues, the research demonstrated that scents are more effective than verbal prompts in evoking vivid and specific memories.
A new study involving 74 participants, has demonstrated significant promise for intravenous ketamine in treating severe depression and bipolar disorder, conditions often resistant to traditional therapies. This research indicates that after just three ketamine infusions over 11 days, 52% of the participants achieved remission, with half of those frequently experiencing suicidal thoughts witnessing a dramatic decline in such impulses.

Schizophrenia News

Research news involving schizotypal personality, anxiety, paranoia, unconventional thoughts and beliefs is covered.

A new study utilizing UK Biobank data has unveiled the genetic roots of left-handedness, pinpointing rare variants in the beta-tubulin gene TUBB4B significantly associated with this trait. These findings not only shed light on the complex interplay between genetics and brain asymmetry but also link left-handedness with neurodevelopmental disorders through shared genetic pathways.
A new pilot study presents a compelling case for the ketogenic diet as a dual-action treatment for individuals with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, who often suffer metabolic side effects from their medication. The research shows how adopting a ketogenic diet not only mitigates these metabolic issues but also significantly improves psychiatric conditions.
A global study involving 131 researchers from 105 labs across seven countries has found altered brain pH and lactate levels across various animal models of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. This large-scale research reveals a common endophenotype involving energy metabolism dysfunction as a hallmark in disorders such as schizophrenia, autism, and Alzheimer’s.